MP2005 Autodesk Revit Architecture Room Data and AutoCAD MEP: You Did What with the Xdata?Jeff CampbellSenior Applications Specialist, Burns & McDonnellJason SchaefferBIM Manager/Software Developer, Henderson Engineers, Inc. 2012 Autodesk 1Class SummaryLearn how to utilize the hidden data in Revit DWG exports.

Discuss how the data was extracted and used inside of AutoCAD MEP on a large scale project.

Discuss the Gotchas that we ran into.

Learn how to fit a square peg into a round hole

2012 Autodesk 2Learning ObjectivesAt the end of this class, you will be able to:Export room polylines from Revit Architectural for use in AutoCAD MEP

Use the AutoCAD MEP API in order to generate spaced from the Revit generated polyline files

Use the AutoCAD MEP API in order to gather extended data found in the Revit generated polylines to populate space information

Lear how this process was implemented on a large scale project 2012 Autodesk 3Class RulesClass Format is LECTURE (we will treat this more like a discussion)

Class Rules:

Set your phones to VibrateRelax and Have FunClass ID is MP2005

Your going to need a bigger boat moment 2012 Autodesk 4

The project Carcharodon carcharias

2012 Autodesk 5Project detailsMulti Design Firm Project

Multiple software packages being used

26 buildings

Told you we were going to need a bigger boat

2012 Autodesk Software used Revit Architecture Revit Structure AutoCAD MEP

26 buildings Combination of residential, commercial, retail 153 acre shared utility basement6Statement of the problemHow do we effectively share room data information between Revit Architecture and AutoCAD MEP without a large manual effort.

The square peg into the round hole issue!

2012 Autodesk What we had to work withRevits ability to export a DWG polyline of the room boundary

Revit API (Application Programing Interface)

AutoCAD MEP API (Application Programing Interface)

Two really crazy application specialist!

2012 Autodesk Idea number 1 Database linkingExport polyline DWG of rooms from Revit Architecture

Utilize the ODBC export of the Revit project model database

Utilize the AutoCAD MEP API to generate spaces from polyline DWG

Utilize the AutoCAD MEP to tie the Database from Revit to space in AutoCAD MEP 2012 Autodesk The 64 bit questionAll our Autodesk products are 64 bit

All our Microsoft products are 32 bit

Theres no way to write a program to target both platforms

2012 Autodesk

The solution A bigger boat

2012 Autodesk 11Deus ex MachinaLuckily, the Revit room export creator had planned aheadThe room boundaries had Xdata attachedElementIDRoom NameRoom Number

Were in business!

2012 Autodesk The processGo through each room fileCreate a space file with the same nameFor each room create a space in the space fileSet the properties of the space to match those in the room

Simple! But

2012 Autodesk GotchasSometimes the room files have issues

Limit rework of previously tagged spaces

New space file = new tags required

We need a room by room sync

That was a close one!

2012 Autodesk Sometimes the room files have issues Revit allows rooms with holes or rooms that touch themselves Autodesk MEP does not.

We have to keep existing space files Room Tag is linked to GUID of the space. New Space = New GUID = Old Tag goes away Room by room sync

14Next StepsAutomatically creating the tagsNot possible in that version of the .NET API

Not feasible to use ObjectARX in our budget and timeframe

ADN support gave us some ideas to try later

2012 Autodesk ConclusionThe API in Revit and AutoCAD MEP are a powerful and valuable tool

Dont be afraid to look outside of the box to solve complex problems

With the correct tools and a little ingenuity it is possible to turn a round hole into a square hole so the peg fits. 2012 Autodesk Conclusion

2012 Autodesk

Autodesk, AutoCAD* [*if/when mentioned in the pertinent material, followed by an alphabetical list of all other trademarks mentioned in the material] are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document. 2012 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

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